THE DEVIL’S GRIN/TEUFELSGRINSEN

The Devil’s Grin/Teufelsgrinsen

written in English by ANNELIE WENDEBERG

What was it that made me go back to London so quickly?

Thanks to a presentation of this book on the radio with a Sherlock Holmes specialist, who approved of the rebirth of this famous detective and really considered him believable in his behavior, I bought this novel about Dr. Anton Kronberg, England’s leading bacteriologist in Victorian London and her right hand . The detective discovers Anton’s biggest secret in no time at all , namely that HE is a woman in disguise. At that time it would have been impossible for a woman to study medicine and to work as a scientist. In this connection I also had to think of Albert Nobbs who was in the same situation even though that story is set in Ireland.

The whole story begins when in London’s cesspool of crime and disease, a series of murders remain undiscovered until a cholera victim is found in the city’s drinking water supply. Dr. Anton Kronberg has then to examine the death man joining forces with the very different but also highly intelligent Sherlock Homes, known for his uncanny ability for details, in order to find out more about the many mysterious happenings, especially at the workhouse Broadmoor or as far as Dr. Stark, and his group of medical doctors, is concerned. The latter wants to know more about the causative agents of tetanus on which Dr. Kronberg is working and does not desist from murder to get the necessary information.

Annelie Wendeberg says in the book that Holmes gets uncomfortable as soon as Anna gets close to him physically or emotionally and that that has been so right from their first meeting and that it gets worse as the distance he needs seems to be getting greater every time they talk. To me, this sounds convincing even though in the end he changes his behavior somewhat.

Of course, in this book, Holmes is not the main character and this may be a disappointment for his fans!

The dialogues between Anna and Sherlock are a real pleasure to read.

At the beginning of chapter 14 there is the following quote by W. Shakespeare:

Last but not least and despite the fact that I would have preferred another ending, I also enjoyed being driven across London passing important and busy places such as Tottenham Court Road, High Holborn, Black Friars Bridge, Great Surrey Street, Waterloo, The Strand, Charring Cross, Regent Street, Piccadilly, St. James’s Park, Kings Road or Palace Gardens.